Linearly-actuated magnetocaloric heat pump

• US 10,006,675 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Inventors: Benedict, Michael Alexander, Beers, David G., Schork, Brian Michael, Schroeder, Michael Goodman
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, BRIAN M
• Application Number:
  US15/213,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20180023860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/00 Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0021 with a static fixed magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0022 with a rotating or otherwise moving magnet
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0023 with modulation, influencing or enhancing an existing magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/02 for circulating liquids, e.g. brine
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/00 Energy efficient heating, ventilation or air conditioning [HVAC]

Abstract

A heat pump includes a magnet assembly which creates a magnetic field, and a regenerator housing which includes a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction. The heat pump further includes a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages including a magnetocaloric material disposed within one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end.

Claims

1. A heat pump, comprising:

a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly creating a magnetic field, the magnet assembly comprising a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet spaced apart along a vertical direction such that a gap is defined between the first magnet and the second magnet and the magnetic field is created in the gap;

a regenerator housing positioned within the gap, the regenerator housing comprising a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction;

a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages comprising a magnetocaloric material disposed within a respective one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end of each stage; and

a bearing assembly, wherein the regenerator housing is a component of the bearing assembly, the bearing assembly connected to the magnet assembly, the bearing assembly comprising a pair of inner races, a pair of outer races and a plurality of bearings, the pair of inner races formed by an outer surface of the regenerator housing, each of the pair of outer races attached to a respective one of the first magnet and the second magnet, bearings of the plurality of bearings disposed between each outer race of the pair of outer races and a respective inner race of the pair of inner races,

wherein one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly is linearly movable relative to the other of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the transverse direction, the bearing assembly configured to guide motion of the regenerator housing relative to the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction.

2. The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the regenerator housing is movable relative to the magnet assembly.

3. The heat pump of claim 1, wherein in a first position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that a first stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field and a second stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field, and wherein in a second position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that the first stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field and the second stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field.

4. The heat pump of claim 1, wherein the bearing are ball bearings.

5. The heat pump of claim 1, further comprising a support frame, wherein the magnet assembly is connected to the support frame.

6. The heat pump of claim 5, wherein the support frame defines an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space and the exterior space disposed on opposing sides of the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction.

7. The heat pump of claim 1, further comprising a motor in mechanical communication with the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly and configured for moving the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction.

8. A heat pump system, comprising:

a cold side heat exchanger configured for heat removal from a first local environment;

a hot side heat exchanger configured for heat delivery to a second local environment;

a first pump for circulating a working fluid between the cold side heat exchanger and the hot side heat exchanger;

a second pump for circulating a working fluid between the cold side heat exchanger and the hot side heat exchanger; and

a heat pump in fluid communication with the cold side heat exchanger, the hot side heat exchanger, the first pump and the second pump, the heat pump comprising;

a magnet assembly, the magnet assembly creating a magnetic field, the magnet assembly comprising a first magnet and a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet spaced apart along a vertical direction such that a gap is defined between the first magnet and the second magnet and the magnetic field is created in the gap;

a regenerator housing positioned within the gap, the regenerator housing comprising a body defining a plurality of chambers, each of the plurality of chambers extending along a transverse direction orthogonal to the vertical direction;

a plurality of stages, each of the plurality of stages comprising a magnetocaloric material disposed within a respective one of the plurality of chambers and extending along the transverse direction between a first end and a second end of each stage; and

a bearing assembly, wherein the regenerator housing is a component of the bearing assembly, the bearing assembly connected to the magnet assembly, the bearing assembly comprising a pair of inner races, a pair of outer races and a plurality of bearings, the pair of inner races formed by an outer surface of the regenerator housing, each of the pair of outer races attached to a respective one of the first magnet and the second magnet, bearings of the plurality of bearings disposed between each outer race of the pair of outer races and a respective inner race of the pair of inner races,

wherein one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly is linearly movable relative to the other of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the vertical direction and the transverse direction, the bearing assembly configured to guide motion of the regenerator housing relative to the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction.

9. The heat pump system of claim 8, wherein the regenerator housing is movable relative to the magnet assembly.

10. The heat pump system of claim 8, wherein in a first position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that a first stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field and a second stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field, and wherein in a second position along the longitudinal direction the regenerator housing is positioned such that the first stage of the plurality of stages is out of the magnetic field and the second stage of the plurality of stages is within the magnetic field.

11. The heat pump system of claim 8, wherein the bearing are ball bearings.

12. The heat pump system of claim 8, further comprising a support frame, wherein the magnet assembly is connected to the support frame.

13. The heat pump system of claim 12, wherein the support frame defines an interior space and an exterior space, the interior space and the exterior space disposed on opposing sides of the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction.

14. The heat pump system of claim 8, further comprising a motor in mechanical communication with the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly and configured for moving the one of the regenerator housing or the magnet assembly along the longitudinal direction.